Can't See pagefil.sys and hiberfil.sys Files!?

I know these two files are hidden system files and should be located at the root of the boot/operating system drive. In my case these two files should be located in C:\ drive.

I've tried to deselect "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)", in the folder view options. The option is deselected, then I click on apply and click on OK buttons. But these two system files are still not displayed under Windows file explorer!?

I re-opened folder view options and note that the previously unchecked option for "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" has become checked again automatically by my computer!?

Why can't I see these two system files, and why is the folder view basically ignoring my unchecked option and restoring the option to being checked automatically?

Thanks for the comments.

Ghot, I tried selecting Apply to Folders also but this made no difference. Still don't see the two system files.

dalchina, thanks for the detailed reply! I looked at the tutorial link, and in the end I downloaded and applied the batch file "Show_protected_operating_system_files.bat". That seemed to work as I can now see both system files!

I was looking at trying Safe Mode if the batch file didn't work.

For now, at least, I can see these two system files as wanted. But why unchecking "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" manually failed to work (didn't show the two system files), is not yet clear.

I ran SFC /scannow to check the operating system. Some errors were apparently found and corrected, but I still couldn't see the two system files after attempting to uncheck "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" again!

I might run an antivirus scan and see if that shows anything that might cause system interference(?)

dalchina said:

Thanks. Can you advise whether the GUI method to show those works in Safe Mode please?
If it does, try a clean boot and try again in normal mode to check for interfering programs.

I don't think an AV check is likely to be relevant here but feel free to proceed.

Are you using a local or admin account? (haven't specifically tried this in a local account.. and the tutorial doesn't mention that)

Booted Windows 10 into Safe Mode via user/local account. Noted that the "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" option was was still unchecked, and I could still see the two system files under c:\ drive.

Checked the "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" option box, and noted that the two system files were now hidden.

Unchecked the "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" option box, and noted that the two system files remained hidden! Once again manually unchecking the "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" option box failed to show the two system files.

Rebooted Windows 10 into Safe Mode via Administrator account next. Tried to show the two system files by again unchecking the "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" option box. Unfortunately this didn't work either! The two system files still remained hidden!

I then applied the "Show_protected_operating_system_files.bat" file; the two system files finally became unhidden!

So, it appears that for whatever reason(s), I am currently unable to manually deselect the "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" option box even when booted into Safe Mode!

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Hearsepilot said:

Out of interest why do you need to see those files?

Just to get an idea of how large these two files are.

I subsequently removed the hiberfil.sys file by running an elevated command - powercfg.exe -h off. Doing this freed up 6 GB of drive space!

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MisterEd said:

I had to do three things to show the hidden files
1. Select Show hidden files, folders, and drives
2. Uncheck box for Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)
3. Click on button Apply

Note hitting the Apply button is important. I found that the options became unselected if I simply select the OK button.

Thanks.

But I was already pressing the Apply button first after unchecking the "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" option box. I then pressed the "Apply to Folders" button, and lastly pressed the OK button. Still no luck!

Created another account for testing.

Regardless of when running in Normal and Safe Modes, the two system files remain hidden when manually unchecking the "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" option box.

Clicking on the "Hidden items" box within the file explorer "ribbon" makes no difference.

Clicking on the Hidden items box ONLY works under Administrator where I had previously applied the "Show_protected_operating_system_files.bat" file. Hidden items box doesn't work even under Administrator account if I had not applied the "Show_protected_operating_system_files.bat" file.

So the only time the two system files become unhidden/visible is after applying the "Show_protected_operating_system_files.bat" file. Manual selection of unhiding files doesn't seem to work regardless of account being used.